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Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Cockroft Column: Session Update

The
first session of the 55th Oklahoma Legislature has now passed an important
deadline. House committee work on House bills has ended. At the same time, we
passed several bills on the House floor.

The
Oklahoma House of Representatives has voted to improve the procedure for
collecting DNA samples from those individuals convicted of a felony or violent
misdemeanor. House Bill 1683 allows the offices of district attorneys to
collect the DNA sample from a convicted criminal. The DNA samples are submitted
to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Laboratory for processing and
inclusion in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). The legislation was
approved by a vote of 93-3.

A bill
aimed at curbing the dangerous trend of texting while driving also passed a
vote on the House floor. House Bill 1965 strengthens language aimed at
preventing texting while driving, marking a first offense fine at $250.
Subsequent offenses would register a $500 fine. The bill passed by a 96-2
margin.

We also
approved a measure that would create Rural Opportunity Zones in counties across
the state. House Bill 1747 allows for the creation of 25 Rural Opportunity
Zones across the state. For taxable years beginning in 2016, the legislation
would allow for a five-year tax exemption for anyone who moves from
out-of-state into a county projected to see a population loss between the
effective date and 2075 per the 2012 Demographic State of the State Report –
Oklahoma State and County Population Projections through 2075. The legislation
passed by a 64-11 margin.

A
measure that would ban “dismemberment” abortions was approved by the House.
House Bill 1721 was approved by a vote of 84-2.

Finally,
the House unanimously approved a bill that would increase the input from
experts on coordinated care of patients with chronic conditions on an advisory
panel that helps set state health policies. House Bill 1085 modifies the Home
Care and Hospice Advisory Council to include palliative care and specifies
membership of the Home Care, Hospice and Palliative Care Advisory Council. The
measure directs the council to identify ways to improve the quality and
delivery of palliative care.

The
legislation, which will increase the panel’s membership from seven to nine
members, was approved by a vote of 90-0.

In
several weeks, these bills will be considered in the Oklahoma Senate. I look
forward to telling you about their progress.

It is an
honor to serve you. It matters not if you are Republican, Democrat, or
Independent; I am here to serve you. Please visit my policy blog at www.RepJoshCockroft.blogspot.com.
Communication is important to me. I want to know how to I can better serve and
lead for our district and our state. I am always a phone call away at: (405)
557-7349. You can also email me at: Josh.Cockroft@okhouse.gov.

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About Josh...

Oklahoma State Representative Josh Cockroft serves the 27th House District which covers Pottawatomie and Cleveland Counties. Cockroft, a Republican, was first elected November 2, 2010 and is currently serving in his third term. Representative Cockroft also serves on the House leadership team as Assistant Majority Whip and Vice-Chair of the Natural Resources and Regulatory Services Sub-Committee.

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